Leo stared at me, biting his lip. Strangely, there was a flicker of grievance in his eyes.
I was confused. He had always hated it when I showed him concern in public, so what was all this for?
Before I could say anything, Ada stepped in front of me protectively and shouted, "You're all mean! Stop bullying Sera!"
Leo, still a child, let his emotions get the better of him and shouted back at her, "She's my mom, not yours!"
This was the first time Leo had ever acknowledged me as his mother in front of others.
But I knew he wasn't claiming me out of love, but rather out of possessiveness—to him, I was his possession that no one else was allowed to touch.
When he lunged forward as if to shove Ada, I immediately stepped between them. Leo lost his footing and fell to the ground with a thud.
I didn't react. I didn't even turn back to check on him.
"Come on, Ada. Let's go. Ignore them," I said, walking away with Ada without looking back.
…
For the next month, I was either buried in th
